Recording device



1929. J. F. OHMER 1,736,416

RECORDING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l VE N TOR. JOHN F OHMER 4 TTORNEX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1925 Now-19, 1929.

J. F. OHMER RECORDING DEVICE Fild March 5, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 II N 1 I I Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN F. OHMEB,

PATENT OFFICE QFYDAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO OHMER FARE REGISTER COMPANY, .01 DAYTON, OHIO, A CORYOR-ATION OF NEW YORK RECORDING DEVICE Application filed March 5, 1925.

This invention relates to recording devices and more particularly to a taximeter which will issue a printed record or ticket showing the amount of fare to be paid.

-6 One object of the invention is to provide a printing mechanism of this kind which may be installed in a taximeter of standard construction without material modification or change in the taximeter mechanism.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a printing mechanism of this character which will be very simple in its construction and operation, which will be positively op erated by the movement of the flag and 115 which will be of a strong durable character.

A further object of the invention is to provide a printing mechanism in which the platen will be controlled without the use of springs.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a printing mechanism which will receive a record sheet or form in duplicate and will print the fare and such other data as may be desired on the duplicate sheets.

Other objects of .theinvention will appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a mechanism embodying my invention with the taximeter frame and casinglin section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional-view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the-printing mechanism :withthe casing and frame in section; and Fig.41is aldetail view of the duplicate record sheet or ticket.

' In these drawings I haveillustrated one embodiment of inventionand have shown the samcas applied to a taximeter of a well known construction, butit will be understood that theiprinting mechanism itself may take various forms and may be embodied in .recording devices of various kinds without departing fromthe spirit ofthe invention.

'ilhie taximetier mechanism to which the present printingmechanism is applied'is of a wellknown construction and I have therefore shown and willnow describe only so much-thereof as may be necessary to a clear understanding of the present invention.

Serial No. 13,217.

The taximeter comprises a main frame consisting of side members 1 and 2 upon which the various parts of the mechanism are mounted and which is enclosed in a casing 3. This taximeter as at present constructed has mounted therein a visual counter which as here shown, consists of a units counterwheel 4:, a tens counterwheel 5, a. hundreds counterwheel 6, and a thousands counterwheel 7, so that the taximeter will register fares up to ninety-nine dollars and ninetyfive cents in multiples of five cents. These counterwheels are loosely mounted on a countershaft 8 supported at its ends on the frame members 1 and 2, and the units counterwheel 4 is positively actuated and the count is transferred therefromto the succeeding counterwheels by transfer mechanism of a well known character, which is not here shown. The units counterwheel 4 has rigidly secured thereto a ratchet wheel 9 which is actuated by a pawl 10 pivotally mounted on the upper end of a rock arm or lever 11, which is pivotally supported at its lower end on a shaft 12. This lever 11 is acted upon by a spring 13 which tends to move the same in a forward or operative direction. Between its ends the lever is provided with a forwardly extending project-ion or shoulder 14 which is engaged by a stepped cam 15 z the several steps of which successively move the lever, and consequently the pawl 10, re arwardly against the action of the spring 13 and then release the same for operation by the spring. in any suitable manner but in this particular meter it is adapted to be operated both from a moving part of the vehicle to compute the fare on the basis of distance and from a clock mechanism to compute the fare on a basis 5 of time. To this end the cam is mounted upon a shaft 16 journaled at its ends in the frame members 1 and 2 and connected by means of a gear train 17 with a second shaft 18.

Rigidly secured to this second shaft is a worm wheel 19 which meshes with a worm 20,- which in turn is driven by a flexible shaft adapted to be connected with a. wheel or other movable part of the vehicle. The gear The cam 15 may be operated .1

train 1'? is connected with the shaft 16 by means of pawl and ratchet mechanism 22 so that the shaft can be rotated in a forward direction when the gear train is idle. The clock mechanism for operating the cam is not here shown but this may be of a well known type and would be connected with the shaft 16 by a pawl and ratchet mechanism similar to that shown at 22, so that the shaft will be actuated from a moving part of the vehicle while the latter is traveling at or above a predetermined rate of speed and will be actuated by the clock when the vehicle is traveling at av speed less than the predetermined rate. i

The taximeter is provided with the usual flag or signal 23 which ismounted on a she. it 2 1 jouli'naled at its rear end in the rear wall of the casing and supported at its front end in a supplemental frame member 25. As is customary in taximeters this occupies a predetermined position, in the present instance its uppermost position, when the vehicle is For hire and is moved into a lowered position when the vehicle has been Hired. This movement of the flag is uti lized to control the operation of the visual counters and the shaft 24 has secured thereto a spiral gear 26 which meshes with a second spiral gear 27 on a shaft 28 supported in the side members 1 and 2 of the main frame and arranged above the shaft 16. Ri idly socured to this shaft is a cam or projection 29 arranged to engage a stud or pin 30 on the lever 11 and move this lever rearwardly. The arrangement of the cam 29 is such that it will be in engagement with the stud, and the lever and pawl will'be held in an inoperative position, when the flag is in its uppermost or For hire position. When the flag is low ered on the hiring of the vehicle the cam is moved out of engagement with the stud ant the spring moves the pawl to an operative position. It is immaterial so far as the present invention is concerned whether the taximeter preserves a permanent record or total of the fares collected.

Mounted on the countershaft 8 is a second. counter which may consist of a single drum 31 and which is adapted to register the extras, that is the extra charges made for addi tional passengers, baggage and the like. This indicator drum is shown as graduated in multiples of twenty cents and is actuated by a suitable manual operating devices which are not here shown.

In order to apply my printing mocha; m to this taximeter it is only necessary to or:- tend the frame members 1 and 2 upwardly slightly beyond their normal height and to correspondingly enlarge the casing. Mounted in the upper portions of the frame members 1 and 2 is a shaft 32 on which I have mounted a printing counter which consi. of a units type wheel 33 and additional type heels 3%, preferably corresponding in number to the counter-wheels of the visual counter or indicator. The units printingwheel is operated in unison with the units counterwheel 1. and the count is transferred therefrom to the succeeding printing wheel 34 by suitable transfer mechanism, which is not here shown, it may be of any suitable character. Rigidly secured to the units printing wheel 33 is a gear 35 which meshes through an idler with a gear 36 rigidly connected with the units counterwhcel at, this connection being in the present instance, established by connecting the gear 36 with the ratchet wheel 9 which in turn is connected with the counterwheel. The gears 35 and 36 are shown as having an equal number of teeth so that the printing counter and the visual counter will be actuated in unison by the operation of the actuating means or pawl 10.

T e printing counter is here shown as consir 11g of type wheels of a well known character from which a record may be printed but it will be understood that these wheels may be of any suitable kind so long as they are of such a character that an impression may be taken therefrom, and the terms type wheel and printing counter as herein used are intended to include any such counterwhecl. In addition to recording the fare the printing counter may be provided with means for printing on the record sheet various'other data, as may be desired. In the present construction, a type wheel 37 is loosely mounted on the shaft 32 adjacent to the extras count ing wheel 31 and has secured thereto agear 38 which meshes with a gear 39 which is connected with the counter 31, the gears being of such ratio that the printing counter 37 will move in unison with the extras counterwheel. Date wheels 40 are also mounted on the shaft 32 and are set in the usual manner'by knobs 41 mounted outside of the cabinet 3 and connected with the respective date wheels by means of telescoping shafts. I have also provided the printing mechanism with a consecutive number counter for the purpose of consecutively numbering each record printed and, as here shown, this counter consists of a bank of type wheels 42 mounted on the shaft 32, the operation of which will be hereinafter described.

Arranged above the printing counters is an oscillatory platen 43 which is carried by arms 44 pivotally supported on. a shaft 45 which is mounted at its ends in the frame members 1 and 2. Means are provided for supporting a record sheet between the type wheels and the platen. This record sheet is preferably in the form of a ticket, as shown in Fig. 4, which may have printed thereon such fixed data as is desired and which is provided with properly arranged spaces to receive the data from the type Wheels. As here shown, this supporting means comprises a plate or table 46 rigidly supported upon the main frame and having an opening 47 into which the upper portions of the type wheels extend, the arrangement being preferably such that the printing faces of the type will be substantially flush with the upper surface of the table 46. Arranged above the table is a guide member or casing 48 which, as here shown, comprises a plate spaced from the table 46 and having its lateral and inner edges turned downwardly and supported on the table l6 so as to form a guideway which will accurately position the record sheet or ticket with relation to the type wheels. The outer end of this guideway is in line with a slot 49 formed in the side member 1 of the main frame, which in turn is in line with a flared opening or slot 50 formed in the cabinet and through which the ticket of Fig. 4 may be quickly and easily inserted in the machine in printing position. The record sheet may be of any suitable character but, as has been stated, is preferably in the form of a ticket or receipt and it is desirable that this receipt should be in duplicate so that one portion may be given to the passenger and the other rctained by the driver. I have therefore shown the ticket or receipt as consisting of two sheets of paper 51 and 52 which are identical in character and between which is interposed a carbon sheet. In the present instance, this carbon sheet is formed on the back of the outer receipt, as shown at 53, and consequently when the record is printed on this outer ticket or receipt it will also be printed on the inner ticket or receipt and after the duplicate receipt has been withdrawn from the machine the two sheets may be separated.

The platen is preferably actuated by the flag, so that a record can be taken only when the flag is shifted from its Hired position to its For hire position. In the present type of taximeter the flag is restored to its raised or For hire position by continuing its rotation so that it will make a complete rotation, and not by reversing its movement, and the actuating devices for the platen are arranged accordingly. The platen is supported normally in its proper spaced relation to the type wheels by means of cams 54., carried on a shaft 55 which is mounted at its ends in the rame members 1 and 2 and these cams are aranged to act respectively on the arms l l. which carry the platen. The shaft has secured thereto a gear 56 which is connected through idle gears 57 with a gear 58 secured to the shaft 28 which, as above explained. is connected with the for movement thereby. The ratio of the gearing is such that the shaft 55 will make one complete rotation for each complete rotation of the flag and the camsfi l are so arranged on the shaft that when the flag is in either its For hire or Hired position they cams will engage the" arms 44 and'support the platen in spaced relation to the type wheels but when the flag is advanced from its Hired position, for the purpose of restoring the same, these cams will be moved out of contact with the platen arms and the platen will be free to move downwardly into contact with the type wheels. A positive pressure is applied to the platen, in order to secure an impression from the type wheels, by means of an elongated cam 59 secured to a shaft 60, also mounted in the frame members 1 and 2, and is arranged to act on the platen to press the same into firm contact with the record sheet and type wheels. This cam is, however, of such radial length that it will move past the platen when the latter is in its lowermost position, thus permitting the shaft to make a complete rotation. The shaft 60 has secured thereto a gear 61 which meshes with the gear 56 and is of such a character that the shaft 60 will also make one complete rotation for each complete rotation of the flag. The cam 59 is so arranged with relation to the shaft 60 that it will normally lie above and out of contact with the platen. the arrangement being such that after the initial movement of the flag has moved the cams to release the platen the cam 59 will engage the platen and impart operative movement thereto. As here shown, the cam will not engage the platen until near the end of its movement.

The consecutive number printing wheels 4-2 are actuated. by the operation of the flag and the actuating mechanism is of such a character that the consecutive number counter will be advanced one unit upon each complete rotation of the and consequently upon each printing operation. This is accomplished in the present instance by mounting on the snaft a one-toothed gear 63 which engages a driving gear 64 on the units tvpe wheel of the consecutive number counter, this one toothed gear being so arranged that it will actuate its counter during the first portion cf the movement of the flag and before the cam has been advanced far enough to release the platen. The several receipts being thus numbered consecutively it is obvious that the driver may be caused to account for all receipts issued.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that at the end of each trip the driver will insert a receipt or record sheet into the machine and that this will be guided into proper printing position with relation to the type wheels. The driver then operates his to disconnect the fare counters from their actuating mechanism and to restore the flag to its normal position. This operation of the flag causes the record of the fares and otherdata to be printed on the receipt and as soon as this'printing operation is completed and the flag restored the receipt is withdrawn, one portion thereof given to the passenger and the other retained by the driver. The printing mechanism is preferably provided with a fixed type plate 62 which prints on the receipt the machine number, thus connecting each receipt with the driver who issued the same.

It will also be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a very sim pic but highly eliicient printing mechanism which can be readily embodied in a taximeter of the type described without change in the mechanism of the taximeter other than the extension of the frame and the necessary chan e in the cabinet. The gears and other mechanism necessary to the preserving and taking of the record can be readily associated with the present mechanism and will be positively operated therefrom.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described .iy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having a visual counter and means for controlling the operation of said counter, a printing counter operatively connected with said visual counter for operation in unison therewith, a platen cooperating with said printing counter to take a record therefrom, means for supporting a record sheet between said printing counter and said platen, means to positively support said platen in spaced relation to said printing counter and to positively move the same into operative engagement with said record sheet, and an operative connection. between the last mentioned means and said means for controlling the operation of said visual counter.

2. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having an item counter and means for controlling the operation of said counter, a printing counter, means for operating said printing counter in unison with said item counter, a platen cooperating with said printing counter to take a record therefrom, means for supporting a record sheet between said printing counterand said platen, means to positively support said platen in spaced relation. to said printing counter, means to positively move said platen into printing relation to said printing counter, and means controlled by said item counter controlling means for successively actuating said platen supporting and moving means to first release said platen and then actuate the same.

3. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having an item counter and means for controlling the operation of said counter,

V printing counter, means for operating said printing counter in unison with said item counter, a platen cooperating with said printing counter to take a record therefrom, arms to pivotally support said platen, cams engaging said arms to support said platen normally in an inoperative position, another cam to engage said platen to move the same into operative relation to said printing counter, and means for connecting the several cams with said means for controlling said item counter to cause said platen to be first released and then operated by the movement of said item counter controlling means to its initial position.

4. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having an item counter and means for controlling the operation of said counter, a fare printing counter, means for operating said item printin' counter in unison with said fare counter, a consecutive number printing counter, a platen cooperating with said printing counters to take a record therefrom, means for supporting a record sheet between said printing counters and said platen, and means controlled by said means for controlling said item counter for actuating said consecutive number printing counter and for operating said platen to cause a rec- 0rd to be taken from said printing counters.

5. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having an item counter and means for controlling the operation of said counter, a fare printing counter, means for operating said fare printing counter in unison with. said item counter, a consecutive number printing counter, a platen cooperating with said printing counters to take a record therefrom, means for supporting a record sheet between said printing counters and said platen, means to positively support said platen in an inoperative position, means to positively operate said platen to take a record from said printing counter, and means operated ly the movement of said means for controlling said item counter to actuate said consecutive number counter, to move said supporting means into an inoperative position and to actuate said operating means for said platen.

6. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having counting wheels and means for controlling the operation of said countingwheelsa shaft mounted above the axis of said countin wheels, printing wheels mounted on said shaft, intermeshing gears to cause said counting wheels and said printing wheels to be operated in unison, a supporting de vice for a record sheet mounted above said shaft and having an opening to receive the upper portions of said printing wheels, means to position said record sheet with relation to said printing wheels, a platen arranged above said supporting device. pivoted arms to support said platen, a shaft arranged beneath said arms, cams carried by said shaft to engage said arms and support said platen normally in an inoperative position, a shaft arranged above said platen, a cam carried by the last mentioned shaft and arranged to move said platen into an operative position, and a geared connection between the two last mentioned shafts and said means for con- 0 trolling said counting wheels for actuating said cams successively to release said platen and operate the same.

7. Ina printing mechanism for a recording device having counting Wheels and means for controlling the operation of said counting wheels, a shaft mounted above the axis of said counting wheels, printing wheels mounted on said shaft, intermeshing gears to cause said'counting wheels and said printing wheels to be operated in unison, means for supporting a record sheet above print-ing wheels and comprising a guidway having one end open to receive said record sheet, a platen mounted above said sheet supporting means for movement toward and from said printing wheels, and means controlled by said means for controlling said counting wheels for positively supporting said platen in an inoperative position and for positively moving the same into operative engagement with the record sheet.

8. In a printing mechanism for a recording device having counting wheels, and means for controlling the operation of said counting wheels, a shaft mounted above the axis of said counting wheels, printing wheels mounted on said shaft, intermeshing gears to cause said counting wheels and said printing wheels to be operated in unison, means for supporting a record sheet above said printing wheels and comprising a guideway having one end open to receive said record sheet, a platen mounted above said sheet supporting means for movement toward and from said printing counter, means for moving said platen into and out of operative relation with said printing wheels, and an operative connection between the last mentioned means and said means for controlling said counting wheels.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

JOHN F. OHMER. 

